1. No, you don't need an entry in /etc/fstab for your printer. That file is
only for filesystems.
2. parport, as I recall, is a module that allows you to access disk devices
(like a ZIP drive) on your parallel port. At least with some kernels, it
interferes with use of the port to connect a printer. If you aren't using a
filesystem connected to your parallel port, you don't need this module. If
you do need it, consider getting a second parallel port; they're relatively
cheap.
3. The place where information about your printers goes is /etc/printcap .
This lists confguration information that lpd and lpr use to manage your
printer(s). Read the man pages for lpd and lpr to get more detail on this.
4. If you just want to test whether your printer is working, the easiest way
is to send a file directly to the device. "cat somefile >/dev/lp0" (replace
somefile with a real filename) should serve. Fancier printing -- for
example, printing Postscript files -- will require more int eh way of a
printcap entry, but this will verify basic connectivity. (BTW, some Linuxes
use /dev/lp1 for the default parallel port. I don't use Calders myself, so I
don't know which it uses. But if lp0 doesn't work, see if lp1 does.)
5. For more info about the details of configuring your printer, go to the
printer database site at URL
http://www.picante.com/~gtaylor/pht/printer_list.cgi
Hope this is enough to get you moving forward. Good luck.
At 08:27 PM 10/19/99 -0400, Michael Adams wrote:
>Hit to all you great people who help us linux newbies!
>
>Does there need to be some sort of line in the /etc/fstab file about the
>printer? I am running Caldera 2.2 and I have somethjng called
>parport........I am lost of course and can't get my printer working. I
>have a Canon 610. But I did notice there is nothing in this file
>(fstab) about lp0 or printers? Any help out there?
------------------------------------"Never tell me the odds!"---
Ray Olszewski -- Han Solo
Palo Alto, CA [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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